On May 24, Eritrea celebrated the 31st anniversary of its independence, achieved in 1991 when the Popular Front for the Liberation of Eritrea secured Asmara and forced the surrender of Ethiopian forces.
The celebrations were attended by top officials of the ruling party, including President Isaias Afwerki, who delivered a speech addressing both national and international issues.
Afwerki used the occasion to defend Russia in the context of the Ukraine war, placing blame on Western nations for the conflict. He drew parallels between Eritrea’s fight for independence and current global tensions, arguing that Western powers, misinterpreting the end of the Cold War, sought to exploit the collapse of bipolarity in a neocolonial strategy.
According to Afwerki, this strategy is evident in Western efforts to contain Russia through expanding political and military influence in Eastern Europe, with Ukraine treated as a pawn. He further claimed a similar approach is being applied to contain China in Asia, using issues surrounding Hong Kong and Taiwan to foment tensions that could result in even greater risks than those currently facing Russia.
Africa Times reports that Afwerki has shown interest in allowing Russia to establish a naval base in the Red Sea, a move hinted at during Foreign Minister Saleh’s recent visits to Moscow and bilateral discussions, fueling long-standing speculation about Eritrea-Russia military cooperation.
